LARKANA, Jan 19: A division bench of the Sindh High Court, Larkana circuit, on Thursday directed the Larkana taluka nazim to get alleged encroachment removed from the Bagh-i-Zulfiqar (a public park) within 30 days and report compliance of the order to the additional registrar of the high court.

The Larkana bench comprised Justice Mohammad Sadiq Leghari and Justice Nadeem Azhar Siddiqi.

The bench asked commandant officer of Rangers and the Larkana DPO to extend necessary assistance to the taluka nazim in removing the encroachments.

Petitioner Advocate Qadir Bakhsh Bhatti through his lawyer Habibullah G. Ghouri had filed a constitutional petition in the court saying that Syed Peer Shah had occupied a portion of the historical park illegally and annexed it in his house.

Peer Shah was also trying to occupy remaining part of the garden, the petitioner alleged.

Advocate Bhatti said the district nazim, district coordination officer, district police officer, taluka nazim and taluka municipal administration were bound to protect government parks and properties. But due to influence of Syed Peer Shah they had closed their eyes and were reluctant to remove the encroachments.

He feared that land grabbers would not hesitate to occupy public properties if the officials failed to remove the encroachment.

The petitioner prayed before the court to direct the officials concerned to remove the illegal encroachment from the Bagh-i-Zulfiqar.

The Larkana taluka nazim through his lawyer Mohammad Ashique Dhamraho had submitted various documents and letters written to the then Sindh corps commander, provincial ombudsman, DPO and DCO informing them about the encroachment on 7,386 square-feet of the park.

Syed Peer Shah was not present in the court while the DPO attended the hearing.

A local government support officer represented the district nazim and the district coordination officer.

SUICIDE: A farmer, Qadir Bakhsh Khakhrani, committed suicide on Thursday by opening fire from his gun in the Garhi Tejo Village in the jurisdiction of Taluka Police Station, Larkana.

The reason for suicide could not be ascertained while police have lodged a suicide case.